Panthers go back over .500 mark with win

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EAST CHICAGO -- Friday night's Griffith-East Chicago game was getting a little too close for comfort for the Panthers thanks to the brilliance of East Chicago running back Michael Smith, who made two big plays to keep the Cardinals in the hunt midway through the third quarter.

But rejoice, Panthers fans.

Your quarterback helped you pull away in a 46-14 win over East Chicago in a preview of coming attractions matchup.

The two teams will meet again next Friday in the first round of Class 4A Sectional 9.

A word of advice for the Cardinals' defense come rematch time: the Griffith running game is its strong point, but watch out for quarterback Greg Joyce, who's two second half touchdown passes turned a 25-14 Griffith tenuous third quarter lead into a 39-14 advantage, pulling the Panthers to their customary over-the-500-mark perch at 5-4.

It wasn't exactly an easy ride getting there, though, with the Panthers beginning the season 1-3 before they turned their season around with four wins in their last five games including a three game winning streak heading into the playoffs.

"It's huge (getting back to .500)," said Joyce. "I can't remember the last time Griffith has had a losing season so we were trying to turn it around. It wasn't as good as we wanted it to be tonight but we won it."

They won it in spite of Smith making two plays to make things interesting in the third quarter. The senior got EC on the board with a 70 yard run on a lateral pass from quarterback Willie Lott, than scored again on a 78-yard pass play to cut the lead to 11.

But on the next Panther possession, Joyce, who had only thrown three passes all game found a wide open Mark Butkus on a 44 yard scoring throw to cut off the Cardinal momentum. And if you think the Cardinals were surprised by the play selection, imagine how the guy who caught the pass felt.

"Some of our wide receivers are hurt and I don't usually go out for passes," Butkus said. "Joyce threw a good pass but it's all about the linemen. They made the play happen. We get all the glory but the linemen get into the trenches and make the play work."

It worked so well the Panthers(5-4) did it again on their next possession with Joyce throwing a 21 scoring pass to D.J. Roach. Promising sophomore running back Ed Johnson had two touchdown runs for the Panthers while Zach Butkus had a field day on special teams, blocking a East Chicago punt for a safety in the first quarter, then picking up a fumble and running it back 36 yards for a fourth quarter score.

All which means East Chicago(4-4) has some work to do before they begin their playoff run next week.

Same Cat time.

Same Cat channel.

And for the Cardinals, hopefully not the same Cat results.

"We held back a little bit, " Joyce said. "We had to turn it up a little in the second half but we still have a few tricks up our sleeve."